A WIRRAL charity is celebrating after receiving national recognition for its 30-year dedication to community and volunteering.

Wirral Community Narrowboat Trust was one of nine projects based along the Northwest’s canals and rivers to receive awards at the 2014 national Living Waterways Awards, held in Leeds last month, and was crowned winner of the Community and Volunteering award.

Formed in 1984, the trust prides itself on improving the quality of life for people who, by virtue of age, illness or disability and to make provision for their social, recreational and education needs.

Each year, the Wirral Community Narrowboat Trust provides trips for over 3,000 people from local special schools, hospices and Alder Hay Hospital. 

It operates two purpose-built boats from five departure points and offers short, full day and residential trips.

Launched by the Canal and River Trust in January and led by an independent panel of experts from the voluntary, environmental, heritage, engineering and architecture sectors, the awards seek to recognise exceptional projects that are helping to care for canals and rivers across the UK.

Simon Tomlinson, from the trust, told the Globe they are extremely proud of receiving the award, which came as a complete surprise, and will make their 30-year celebrations even more special.

The trust has a strong and growing volunteer base of over 100 people from the local community.  Training is key, with all volunteers trained to help run the service as either skipper or crew.

Helen Carey OBE DL, Chair of the Awards’ Assessment Panel, says: “The Trust has established an excellent local profile and volunteer base through a proactive outreach programme of talks and events. 

"The outcome is a very special and sometimes life changing experience of the waterways and outside world for thousands of people each year.”